The Write to Read BC design response team designs Indigenous-led libraries. But they do this only when they’re invited by the community that wants a library.
Generally, the envisioning and design process follows these steps: Firstly, the team travels to the community. Secondly, in discussions with your team, we discover what you want from a library, and develop a concept, or vision. Thirdly, the design response team takes time to consider and prepare an architectural design. Lastly, we revise it until the community agrees on the design.
Here’s the whole in more detail.
After you approach us to explore what’s possible, here’s what generally happens:
- Envision. When you invite us to your community, we’ll begin a discussion to explore your needs and goals. We’ll send a design response team to meet and listen to your team. What challenges, opportunities, and priorities do you have? We’ll gather input and ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Together we’ll capture your vision.
- Design. Using insights from our discussion, we’ll ask the design response team’s architect to develop a library design that reflects your goals, community values, and cultural priorities. The design can use an existing structure or build a new space. Of course we’ll adjust the design and build consensus with you until the design captures what you want.
- Create. Once you’ve agreed on the design, our construction response team figures out the costs. Then we arrange partners, such as Rotary Clubs across BC, to supply the materials and construction equipment. We also find volunteers. In either case, we engage your community to make sure you’re ready for visitors to work with you on the building.
- Install. When the space is ready, our library response team installs the shelving, library furniture, books, and computer equipment. We work with the community members who will run the library to provide training, and support them in bringing your library to life. Then we leave the library in your capable hands.
Design response team expertise
This team includes these experts:
- an architect.
- an intern architect.
- a structural engineer.
Once everyone agrees on the concept, the design response team gives the design to the construction response team.
Refining the process
The Write to Read BC team learns from each project. Consequently, this increases the design choices for later projects.
The earliest projects focused on smaller buildings, mainly used for libraries. Over time, we found some projects adding a library to a larger community centre.
One of the design response team’s early successful design meetings was for the Malahat project Kwanew Kwasen, which showed all parties how to design in partnership. Since then, the design response team has used that format with many other isolated communities that were seeking a library.
Similarly, after a Nooaitch Band members asked for video conferencing capability. The computers and internet connections for this also allow a library to offer remote attendance at courses and conferences. As a result, the design response team now asks each community whether they want such a learning centre, too.